It's Not A Joking Matter

Someone sent me a cheerful little Youtube ditty, I'm Keeping Kosher for Christmas. It makes light of the children of intermarriage and the competition between Chanukah and Xmas.

It's funny but not. Even though it's cheery and humorous, it's sad, because there are lots of Jews who are caught between Judaism and the prevailing non-Jewish culture where they live.

I remember watching the Jewish TV show, "The Eternal Light," (I'm pretty sure it was that show,) soon after the Diary of Anne Frank was published. There was a skit, in which combined the Greek persecution of Jews with that of the Nazis. The characters discussed how much they would risk to keep the Jewish traditions and laws. One very proudly expounded on how he'd be willing to risk his life. The other one resonded:

"Now you do have the right to observe all of the Jewish Laws. Why don't you?"

That made a great impression on me and is one of those pivital moments that inspired me to be a Torah observant Jew and move to our Holy Land.